Another day, another quarterback battle royale in college football. Colorado’s got Julian Lewis vs. Kaidon Salter. Columbus is brewing Tavien St. Clair vs. Lincoln Kienholz vs. Julian Jayin. And now, Tuscaloosa throws its hat in the ring with Ty Simpson vs. Austin Mack vs. Keelon Russell. Kalen DeBoer enters his second year at Alabama, aiming to erase the memory of losses to Oklahoma and Michigan. With zero margin for error, the quarterback position is critical. But who’s it going to be? Ty Simpson or Keelon Russell? It’s a head-scratcher, but Josh Pate has already picked his favorite.

After months of speculation, Alabama’s QB competition has narrowed to a two-man race, leaving Austin Mack out of the running. Some are betting on Ty Simpson, while others think Kalen DeBoer might opt for Keelon Russell as Jalen Milroe’s successor. But Josh Pate? He made his preference clear weeks ago: “I have done some digging. I think Ty Simpson’s the overwhelming favorite to win that starting job.” And it’s a logical call. Simpson brings experience, a valuable asset for DeBoer.

However, the moment Josh Pate made this statement, he faced backlash, with some accusing him of bias. Now, he’s reiterating his stance on the starting quarterback, and it’s still Ty Simpson. As he stated on the Josh Pate College Football Show, “I said a couple of weeks ago I thought it was Ty Simpson’s job to lose, which I still think I’m right about. Some out there recklessly took that to mean that I was calling for Ty Simpson to win the job. I wasn’t calling for Ty Simpson to do anything other than be the favorite at the moment I made the statement. I still think he’s the favorite to win the job.” Ty Simpson has spent two seasons as Jalen Milroe’s backup, working with a carousel of offensive coordinators—JaMarcus Shephard, Dick Sheridan, Tommy Rees, and now Ryan Grubb. He’s deeply familiar with Alabama’s system and demonstrably loyal to the team.

Despite limited game action, he impressed during the Mercer game, completing 5 of 10 passes for 71 yards and rushing for 14 yards. His escape from a third-and-15 sack, followed by a 43-yard pass to Josh Cuevas for a touchdown, showcased his potential. This is why Ty Simpson is a strong contender for the starting role.

On the other hand, Keelon Russell is in the mix!

While it wouldn’t be a complete shock if he won the job, it would still be a notable upset. The idea of a true freshman beating out a senior who’s waited patiently for two years is undeniably intriguing. “There is a layer of thinking out there shared by many that Keelon Russell, five-star true freshman, Elite 11 MVP, is going to come in and end up taking that job. If he does, it wouldn’t be the biggest shock in the world. It’d be a mild surprise, but it wouldn’t be the biggest shock in the world because he’s going to end up being a stud one day,” Josh Pate said. But for now, all speculations point to Ty Simpson securing the starting job. And Josh Pate is not the only one calling dibs on him.

Germie Bernard backs up Josh Pate’s Ty Simpson take

Kalen DeBoer is pulling out all the stops to salvage Alabama’s fate, and hiring Ryan Grubb is a prime example. Now, Grubb finally holds the reins to Alabama’s offense, and according to senior wideout Germie Bernard, he’s not drastically overhauling the system. “It’s really the same system,” Bernard said via Tide TV. “Coach DeBoer has his own system, and he has that set. Coach Grubb and Coach Sheridan throw in their little sprinkles in there, but it’s been great having Coach Grubb back.” After a brief stint in the NFL, Grubb returns to college football with fresh perspectives, though Bernard insists their explosive offense remains fundamentally the same, just with a more polished approach.

With Alabama’s 2024 scoring average hitting a 15-year low of 33.8 points per game, Grubb’s arrival aims to reignite the offense. Bernard, who previously played for Grubb at Washington, sees the offense finally trending upward. “He was able to learn new things [in the NFL]. Now, we have that same explosive system and also have an NFL mindset.” Grubb’s influence is clear, but Germie is also placing his faith in Ty Simpson.

Ty Simpson enters spring camp as the frontrunner in Alabama’s three-man quarterback battle, and Germie Bernard sees a noticeable transformation. “The quarterbacks have been great,” Bernard said. “They’re just taking it all in. The new system is very challenging, but they’re up for the challenge. They come in every day, and they work very hard. It’s going to be exciting to see each and every one of them grow. … Ty’s mindset has changed a lot. He’s just really growing. He’s growing into more of a leader. He’s stepping up, and he knows what it takes. He played behind a pretty good QB. He has what it takes to get the job done.” And that’s precisely what Kalen DeBoer needs right now: a “leader.”

Spring practice began on March 3rd, and despite the shifting dynamics, Bernard is optimistic about what he’s witnessing. Will Bernard’s insights and Pate’s predictions align with reality come fall?